Diego Rivera has been honoured with a Google doodle on the 125th anniversary of his birthday. Photograph: Google

The artist Diego Rivera is celebrated in the latest Google doodle which draws inspiration from his huge murals that depicted Mexico's turbulent history.

While Rivera might have approved of Google bringing art to the masses in this way, the Marxist artist's view of the multi-billion dollar internet giant may have been rather more critical.

Born in Guanajuato, Mexico in 1886, Rivera was considered the leader of the Mexican muralists who sought to expose ordinary people to art through large-scale works in public buildings. He is credited with re-introducing frescoes – murals painted on fresh plaster – into modern art and architecture.

In recent years his tempestuous relationship with fellow Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, which was depicted in a 2002 Hollywood film, has renewed interest in his life and work.

His murals, which retold Mexico's turbulent history, adorned the walls of buildings throughout the capital city. He was also commissioned to paint huge murals in the USA.

Among the most famous of his works is his mural on the walls of the Detroit Institute of Arts that celebrates the American worker, particularly those on the production lines of car plants, which was completed in 1933.